"This is such a thrill but really, really embarrassing in a year that saw so many extraordinary performances by women in leading roles," Streep said.

The 62-year-old then realized that she had forgotten her cards containing notes for her.

"I'm gonna have to remember my speech!" Streep said as George Clooney tried to pass her cards up. However, the actress took no notice and continued ad-libbing, saluting her fellow nominees in the category.

"How about Michelle [Williams], how about Mia Wasikowska in Jane Eyre, fantastic, Tilda [Swinton]... oh, jeez," she continued, naming more of her fellow actresses.

"The fact that [these performances] all came this year is really really good news for all of us," Streep insisted.

The actress went on to compare challenging roles in cinema to "exotic birds, rare, near-extinct birds", saying: "a new flock flies in and somebody picks them up and gives them money and we get to see them".

Streep concluded by saying: "I just want to thank my agent... and God - Harvey Weinstein," she said."[As well as] everybody in England that let me come and trample all over their history."